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Talking Points: Premier League kick-off

الإثنين 07 أغسطس 2017, 3:00 م

بيب جوارديولا ودعابة وسط التدريبات

Manchester City open their eagerly-awaited Premier League campaign away at newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. Here we take a closer look at the key issues ahead of the trip to the Amex Stadium.

1Strength in Depth

One thing Pep Guardiola will not be short of for this weekend's league opener are options.

With City having brought in several exciting new faces in the shape of Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Kyle Walker and Danilo and with Benjamin Mendy also to be thrown into the mix once he is fully fit, the Blues manager will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting his starting 11 for the eagerly-anticipated season opener.

Pep has already suggested that he will operate a 'horses for courses' selection policy this term, hinting that he will mix and match according to the demands of both the opposition and competition as City prepare for what will be a demanding campaign across four competitions.

4Back in business

A powerful new young goalkeeper in the shape of Brazilian Ederson, along with a trio of exciting defenders who relish pushing forward in Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo, have joined to compliment the steely resolve of Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones and it suggests a defensive unit which should both help bulwark the Blues' back-line and compliment their explosive firepower.

Having shaken off their ring rust in the opening pre-season fixture against Manchester United, in subsequent matches against Real Madrid, Spurs and West Ham, City have looked solid and dependable when they have been threatened, conceding just one goal along the way.

Early days of course, but there's plenty of genuine cause for optimism about the way City's new-look defence is shaping up.

5Taste for travel

For many teams having to start their Premier League campaign away from home could well be a cause for concern.

However, under Pep Guardiola in his first season in charge, City proved a formidable machine when on the road.

City won a top-flight club record 12 Premier League games on their travels last term - second only to eventual champions Chelsea - often exploiting the extra freedom playing away from the Etihad afforded them.

Facing a fired-up Brighton back in the top-flight for the first time in 34 years in front of a sell-out Amex crowd will, of course, be a formidable challenge.

But if City can quell the initial storm that will surely come at them, their experience at what it takes to prosper away from home could eventually prove crucial.